It is a dark, heartbreaking morning for Nollywood.
Veteran actor Francis Duru, who lit up our screens for over three decades, has passed on at 57 in a brief illness.
The devastating news was broken in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026, in a statement posted on his Instagram page by his grieving family.Read Daily News
“We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness. We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in peace. Amen,” the family wrote, as tributes began to pour in.
Confirming the painful loss, the National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Abubakar Yakubu, penned a short, shattering tribute on the guild’s Instagram page: “Another great thespian is gone. Rest in peace, Francis Duru.”Buy Maps
For many Nigerians, Duru was a household name, a familiar face, a calm presence. From his breakout role in the classic 1995 blockbuster “Rattlesnake” to countless other memorable performances, he embodied humility, talent and grace.
The curtains have fallen too soon. Nollywood has lost one of its finest.
